STAMFORD, Conn. – October 18, 2017 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) can clinch his fourth career Formula One Drivers’ Championship this weekend, as NBC Sports presents live coverage of the United States Grand Prix from iconic Circuit of the Americas this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. Pre-race coverage begins at 2 p.m. ET on NBC with F1 Countdown.

NBC, NBCSN, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will combine to present comprehensive live coverage of all practice, qualifying and race coverage this weekend, beginning on Friday at 11 a.m. ET on NBCSN with Practice 1.

In addition, NBC Sports Group surrounds the Round of 12 elimination race in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with live race coverage from Kansas Speedway on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

FORMULA ONE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX – SUNDAY AT 3 P.M. ET ON NBC

Hamilton currently holds a 59-point lead over Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel in the World Championship standings as the season rolls into Austin, Texas. Hamilton has won five times in the six U.S Grand Prix he’s competed in, including the last three at COTA, and has won four of the last five races this season to pull ahead of Vettel. Hamilton driver needs to outscore Vettel by 16 points, and teammate Valtteri Bottas by three points, in order to capture his fourth career Drivers’ Championship.

Hamilton wins Drivers’ Championship …

If Hamilton wins and Vettel finishes sixth or worse;

If Hamilton finishes in second place, Vettel finishes in ninth or lower, and Bottas fails to win.

2017 F1 Drivers’ Championship Standings

Position

Driver

Team

Points

1

Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes

306

2

Sebastian Vettel

Ferrari

247

3

Valtteri Bottas

Mercedes

234

4

Daniel Ricciardo

Red Bull Racing Tag Heuer

192

Mercedes enters the weekend with a 145-point lead over Ferrari in the race for the Constructors’ Championship, and needs to maintain a 129-point lead at the conclusion of this weekend’s race to claim its fourth consecutive title.

2017 F1 Constructors’ Championship Standings

Position

Team

Points

1

Mercedes

540

2

Ferrari

395

3

Red Bull Racing Tag Heuer

303

4

Force India Mercedes

147

NBC Sports Group’s lead F1 commentary team of play-by-play voice Leigh Diffey, veteran analyst and former racecar driver David Hobbs, and analyst and former race mechanic for the Benetton F1 team Steve Matchett will call the action. F1 insider Will Buxton will serve as the on-site reporter from Circuit of the Americas.

SEASON FOUR OF /DRIVE ON NBCSN BEGINS THURSDAY AT 10 P.M. ET

/DRIVE is again bringing its dynamic, car-enthusiast programming to NBCSN for Season Four, beginning Thursday at 10 p.m. ET, as Matt Farah, Mike Spinelli, and Chris Harris take viewers around the globe in some of the most dynamic vehicles on earth. Season Four will be comprised of six 30-minute episodes, as well as a 60-minute season finale featuring the crew’s adventures in Iceland on Nov. 9 at 10 p.m. ET. Thursday night’s premiere includes a look at a Camaro 1LE in a NASCAR wind tunnel, as well as a visit to the Miami car scene with a new Lamborghini. Click here for a season preview.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will provide season-long live streaming coverage of all Formula One practices, qualifying sessions and Grands Prix, including exclusive coverage of practices that will not air on NBC or NBCSN. NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream NASCAR and IndyCar content that will air on NBC and NBCSN (race coverage and some practice and qualifying), as well as the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, Red Bull Global RallyCross series, and Red Bull Air Race.

MOTORSPORTSTALK:MotorSportsTalk (@MotorSportsTalk) on NBCSports.com brings racing fans up-to-the-minute news, video and information on Formula One, the Verizon IndyCar Series, and other open-wheel and off-road racing from around the world. The site also serves as the destination for all news, analysis and video from NBC and NBCSN productions of IndyCar and F1, including contributions from on-air commentators.

In addition, the NASCAR on NBC Facebook page will provide users with videos, interactive content and much more. Fans should also “like” NBC Sports on Facebook for the most up-to-date news, videos and commentary about NBC Sports Group’s motorsports properties.

For more information about NBC Sports Group shows and properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios and headshots, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com.